Avati Discovering Arctic ecology

Gr 2-4-The Arctic is not the barren wasteland that many believe it to be. Instead it is a complex and integrated ecosystem relying on complicated and necessary relationships between animals and plants. The book follows the life and habits of the many creatures from the coldest and darkest of winters to the lush and sunlit summers. Rich watercolor illustrations spreading over a page and a half embellish the detailed text, showing the land and sea animals and the many types of birds that make the Arctic their seasonal home. Pelletier concentrates on a positive outlook for this habitat and d oes not address the changes being brought about by global warming. Unfamiliar words in the text are italicized and explained in an extensive glossary. Though the picture-book format might imply a simpler text than is presented, the author offers a lot of good information for students studying ecology, environment, and the Arctic. The title comes from the Inuit word for environment.-Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

An ecologist who lives and works in Earth's far, far north describes the changing seasons in the part of the world the Inuit call Nunavut--"our land." Weaving together information about the land and water, plants and animals, Pelletier provides a clear depiction of an Arctic environment. Unlike some introductions to this part of the world, this account presents a full web of life. Her food chain begins with the tiny algae underneath the sea ice. From diatoms and amphipods to the fish, birds, insects and mammals that inhabit the land and the sea edges of this environment (avati in Inuit), she connects them to one another, to the plants of the brief summer and to the changing stages of ice. She doesn't hesitate to introduce new vocabulary (defined in a concluding glossary), Inuit words (defined in context) and onomatopoetic sounds. What appear to be pencil-and-watercolor illustrations extend far across the gutters. Appropriately matched with the text, set in a column on the right-hand side of each spread, they reward careful inspection. Teachers and librarians may want to pair this useful title with A Walk on the Tundra, by Rebecca Hainnu and Anna Ziegler, illustrated by Qin Leng (2011) from the same Inuit publisher. A brief but informative look at an extraordinary ecosystem. (Nonfiction. 8-14)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.